New Delhi: The Delhi excise department has started the process to reduce the prices of premium whiskys and asked wholesale foreign liquor vendors to submit lists of registered imported Scotch whisky brands whose maximum retail prices need to be revised following a reduction in customs duty.Following the India-UK comprehensive economic and trade agreement, a July 14, 2026, notification has brought down the aggregate effective customs duty on items imported from UK from 150% to 75%, which will be further reduced to 40% in the 10th year of the deal.All wholesale foreign liquor licensees whose registered brands fall under the tariff items covered by the notification have to submit an application within seven working days for revision of MRP, along with details of the revised cost card, a recent order stated.The excise department said the “maximum retail price calculated according to the prescribed formula contains customs duty as a direct component” for several types of imported foreign liquor handled by these licensees.A policy decision regarding a new excise regime has been pending, with Delhi govt yet to frame a new excise policy.
